Hello from Anita!
She came to us along with a pair of 1500 pound black and white Holsteins. The matched pair lept from the stock trailer, happy to be in a pasture again, like giant salt and pepper shakers.
Little Corey shyly hung back, carefully tottering down the ramp. Right away, we noticed her sweet face and soulful brown eyes, although she walked with a terrible limp. We’re both suckers for rescue animals, they often make the most loyal friends.
Imported by the Spanish in 1493, Corriente cattle are smaller than other breeds, tough and hardy, known as easy keepers in the harsh desert climates of Mexico and south Texas.
An accident had crippled her as a calf, making her less valuable at market. We saved her from the slaughterhouse and she saved us from property taxes. There are significant tax discounts for agricultural land use, a must for the larger acreage needed to raise livestock or farm.
Corey was a loner, although for a time she had the best of companions. Unbeknown to us, she was about to calve when she hobbled into our lives.
As her time drew near, the vet made a house call, advising us to keep her close at hand because of her deformity.
On a cold January day, we were surprised to hear a weak little bleat. Scrambling outside to investigate, we witnessed the miracle of birth.
The long legged black creature was scrawny and wet, but like all new mothers, Corey thought he was the most beautiful calf ever born. We thought he was a great little bonus bull.
The two of them were inseparable. He frolicked and played and grew to be a handsome young fellow. So much so, that one fine day many months later that little bull disappeared. Corey looked everywhere for him pitifully crying and calling.
It turned out that a passel of heifers across the way, had turned his head one too many times and he jumped a large fence with adventure in mind. A pure bred Corriente bull is a prize to cattle breeders as they are often used for rodeo roping.
Because of his small size, he made the perfect sire for first time mama cows of larger breeds. It was easy to sell him and the price we got just about paid for Corey's keep that year.
Being a stud bull on a thousand acre ranch is probably as good as it gets, so I know Corey was proud of him.
Five years later, our neighbors Angus bull launched himself over the fence, like the cow jumping over the moon and we wound up with another bonus bull.
Although Corey didn’t survive that birth, her legacy lives on.
The other day, we were surprised to see the now adolescent Baby fly over the fence as agile as a gazelle, intent on escaping the vet who had him cornered.
They say good fences make good neighbors but bulls say don’t fence me in!
What do you say?
Thank you for another wonderful story of life on the homestead. I look forward to this short pause from the day every Friday so that I can lifted up and feel a little better about humanity. Blessings!
You nailed it! Our huge Angus bull jumped a fence, seemingly defying gravity, while others (gentle Highlands) have used their horns to lift strands of barbed wire to help the herd through to taller grass. They're determined and ingenious! Good luck with them!